by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study education at the Associate’s Degree level, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 151 colleges that stand out for veteran education students, using our 2026 methodology.
This ranking is based on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits (including GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon support), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community. To help you decide, College Factual evaluated colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat to build custom comparisons on the factors you care about most.
Explore the best education colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Here are the top-ranked education colleges for veterans:
No school served veteran education students better than University of Delaware this year. The school's overall veterans score is 91.1 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about education at University of Delaware
Veteran students seeking a strong education program will find one at Salt Lake Community College, which ranked #2. The school's overall veterans score is 86.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. Read more about education at Salt Lake Community College
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus is a great choice for veterans pursuing education, landing the #3 spot this year. It scores 85.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. See the full education report for University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Collin County Community College District came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best education colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 83.0 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full education report for Collin County Community College District
Miami Dade College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best education colleges for veterans. Miami Dade College scores 82.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full education report for Miami Dade College
Tallahassee State College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best education colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 82.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the education program at Tallahassee State College
Houston Community College came in at #7 for veteran education students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 81.8 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full education report for Houston Community College
Wake Technical Community College placed #8 among the best education colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 81.6 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about education at Wake Technical Community College
Palm Beach State College placed #9 among the best education colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 80.6 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the education program at Palm Beach State College
Gateway Technical College landed the #10 spot for veterans pursuing education. Gateway Technical College scores 80.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about education at Gateway Technical College
Pima Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best education colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 80.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about education at Pima Community College
Dallas College came in at #12 for veteran education students this year. It scores 80.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the education program at Dallas College
Austin Community College District landed the #13 spot for veterans pursuing education. It scores 79.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about education at Austin Community College District
Lake Washington Institute of Technology ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best education colleges for veterans. It scores 79.4 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full education report for Lake Washington Institute of Technology
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College placed #15 among the best education colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 79.1 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full education report for Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
South Texas College came in at #16 for veteran education students this year. South Texas College scores 78.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full education report for South Texas College
Daytona State College placed #17 among the best education colleges for veterans. It scores 78.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about education at Daytona State College
Community College of Baltimore County landed the #18 spot for veterans pursuing education. It scores 78.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full education report for Community College of Baltimore County
Anne Arundel Community College placed #19 among the best education colleges for veterans. Anne Arundel Community College scores 78.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about education at Anne Arundel Community College
Tarrant County College District ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best education colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 78.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the education program at Tarrant County College District
Empire State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best education colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 78.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about education at Empire State University
Northwest Vista College landed the #22 spot for veterans pursuing education. Northwest Vista College scores 78.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full education report for Northwest Vista College
Indian River State College came in at #23 for veteran education students this year. Indian River State College scores 77.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the education program at Indian River State College
Oklahoma City Community College landed the #24 spot for veterans pursuing education. Oklahoma City Community College scores 77.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full education report for Oklahoma City Community College
Fox Valley Technical College came in at #25 for veteran education students this year. Fox Valley Technical College scores 77.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about education at Fox Valley Technical College
Not far behind, these education colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is based on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying education: affordability and veteran financial benefits (GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
